The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia has launched two initiatives for children caught up in family law proceedings.
In line with National Children’s Week, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) Division 1 and 2 introduced the Children’s Charter, which outlines its commitment to children’s decision making in a way that promotes safety and wellbeing.
This is in addition to a Kids’ Corner section of its website, featuring two short animations and age-appropriate resources.
This part of the website will explain what happens in court and how decisions are made about a child’s place in their parents’ lives.
Justice Alice Carter of Division 1, and chair of the court’s children’s committee, said the FCFCOA is committed to honouring children’s rights “through the Children’s Charter, our child participation framework, and initiatives like Kids’ Corner”.
During an event to announce the new initiatives, Chief Justice William Alstergren said it was more than just information: “It is about creating an environment where children feel confident and cared for, and they understand the changes happening in their lives.”
“When we treat children with respect and enable them to have appropriate access to information, we strengthen access to justice and trust in our legal system.”
“The courts are not just places to law, they are places of people, and among them are our youngest and most vulnerable.”
National children’s commissioner Anne Hollonds said children have felt they were “kept in the dark” during family law proceedings.
“I commend the courts’ leadership to ensure that ‘the safety and wellbeing of a child is the highest priority’ and that ‘their views must be listened to and respectfully considered’,” Hollonds said.
Hollonds called on colleagues to take on board opportunities to change service systems by prioritising children, even when it comes at the cost of quick convenience.
“I’m optimistic that in Australia, we will be able to act on the evidence to improve on our systems to make children’s safety and wellbeing a national priority and build the accountability mechanisms across the federation to address the unmet needs of our youngest citizens.
“It is my hope that your leadership on the rights of children will be mirrored in all the other systems where we find children,” Hollonds said.
Judge Kylie Beckhouse added that the charter was guided by 10 foundational principles to promote safety, dignity and participation.
“In developing the charter, we have spent considerable time consulting with experts, listening to children’s voices, to ensure that the charter and other resources are both informative and empowering,” Judge Beckhouse said.
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
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